TNG

We're super stoked every time we see a box in the mail from Eaglemoss, the people responsible for the Star Trek Starships Collection, but this time the time between shipments seemed to be quicker than normal. We'd love to blame that on an exciting temporal anomaly adventure but the reality is that we've just been plain old busy. But hey, how is it not cool when the outcome of busy-ness is that you get to open 3 shipments of Star Trek collectibles all at once? It was totally Trek-mas in July September. Check out their website to sign up for a subscription of your very own.

Anyway, as usual, we loved every second of opening and "assembling" our ships. That's one of those things I personally like to savor. Examining each ship's detail is a blast. Don't tell anybody, but when I happen to be opening them when no one else is around, they even go out for a little "test-flight" around the room...with corresponding "vroomvroom" sound effects (provided by me, of course). Remember...mum's the word on that one.

The solid construction of these models, is again, the first thing that I notice as I take them out of their boxes. Most of each ship is made of metal, with only a minimal amount of resin pieces. The detail of each ship is still amazing to me. They are scaled appropriately, so they don't feel like a little kid's toy, but even at their scale-model size, you can see every detail of the panels and markings that make up the personality of each ship.

After assembling the stands and setting them into their respective one, I notice that some of the stands fit more snugly than others. Once they were on my display shelf I didn't have any issues, but if you plan to take them down to play with ...errrr...I mean, examine...you should be careful when doing so, so you don't accidentally drop either the ship or the stand. I get the feeling that they wouldn't break...but who wants to take that chance.

We've been seeing quite a lot of new Star Trek inspired devices being developed lately. Many of them similar to tricorders. While several of these new diagnostic tools are focusing on the medical side of the tricorder functionality, we found one the other day (thanks to our friend Drew) that is focused on analyzing food.

This new tool, by TellSpec is designed to scan your food, right on your plate, and tell you what's in it and how much. If this new scanner hits the market, functioning as described, it will be a great tool for those watching calories for weight loss and those looking to stay within safe dietary parameters for diabetes and other health concerns. While it isn't quite to the consumer-ready phase (they're still working on making it as small and good looking as the design calls for), it is well on its way to living up to all of the goals these developers have set for it.

We’ve been subscribers of the Star Trek Starships by Eaglemoss Collections since the last Las Vegas Star Trek Convention in August, 2013. We saw them on the vendor floor and were totally hooked, but it wasn’t until the day after the convention was over (recovery day, as we like to call it) that our good friend Darren (from Trek Cast) reminded us about them and showed us the awesome books and models that he had already received for signing up, that we remembered to sign up for ourselves. Ever since then, we’ve been receiving these little metal beauties in the mail every month like clockwork.

The hardest and most rewarding thing about Deep Space 9 is that it is not episodic in nature. The stories often do not bear their full weight without being experienced in series and, like that, Avatar bears no weight without the entirety of the television run behind it. In other words, if you haven’t watched Deep Space 9 all the way to the end, this isn’t the book you’re looking for.

It looks like more of Star Trek's science fiction is becoming science fact. NASA is working with a Texas-based company to develop two new devises. One that will build 3d human cells, and another one that will treat pain externally without medications. We're wondering if the Dermal Regenerator will be the next "flip phone"...

Nasa has signed a deal to create ‘novel biotechnology’ devices including a system that builds 3D human cells, and another that treats pain externally.

The gadgets will be built under patent licensing agreements in partnership with Texas-based GRoK Technologies and are the results of the agency's Technology Transfer Program.

The first device, called BioReplicates, will let users create 3D human tissue models that can be used for drug and cosmetic testing.

They will increase the ‘safety, efficacy and toxicity’ of current tests and add ‘greater accuracy, reliability and cost-efficiency.’

Nasa said the technology could help reduce animal testing, too.

The technology would work in a similar way to the dermal regenerators used in Star Trek and future models could one day heal wounds automatically.

There's more Star Trek meets Star Wars talk. It's reported that at the recent Gallifrey I Convention in Los Angeles Brent Spiner may have mentioned that he's currently working on "Star Wars Rebels."

According to Carmelle Marshall who was reporting from the Gallifrey 1 Convention in Los Angeles, Brent Spiner appeared as part of the 'Young Justice' live panel event… where he and producer Greg Weisman revealed that they're currently working together on 'Star Wars Rebels'.

Entire #YoungJustice panel is jealous that @Greg_Weisman & @BrentSpiner are currently working on #StarWarsRebels. #gally1